It is entirely fitting and proper after considering Romans 13:1-7 in my last posting that it should be followed by a few brief reflections upon Revelation 11:15-18.
Ponder again my closing statement from the previous entry. I state that the Apostle Paul directives of Romans 13:1-7 to “restrain us from retreating into a fetal position, a so-called Benedict Option, a Christian cloister, a retreat from public life with a safe habitation hermetically sealed from the wicked world’s influence. Rather, the Apostle Paul obligates us Christians to confront the world and evil governing officials. . . . The gospel he preaches and which we Christians embrace with joy calls upon us to confess ‘Jesus is Lord!’”
This means that “Jesus Christ is Lord over every realm, over every domain, over every place, and over every person, including vaunted kings, braggart presidents, tyrannical magistrates, self-appointed messianic figures, and even Caesars who call themselves gods. Governance and public policy issues do not fall beyond the reach of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Political theories and implementations are under Christ’s dominion.”
Scripture assures us that the governments, kingdoms, and dominions of this world will someday yield to “the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ” who will reign forever and ever.
“The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said: ‘The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.’
And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, saying: ‘We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign. The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small—and for destroying those who destroy the earth.’”
May I suggest that you first listen to Handel’s Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus and once completed then read this blog entry? Of the many things this passage has to say, surely, the following three are readily apparent.
a. Human governments, however good they may be, are not to be confused with the kingdom of God.
Understandable though it may be why many have often merged America with the kingdom of God, it is profoundly wrong. It is wrong at several levels. At one level the notion mistakenly commingles or equates the country or nation with its government. At no time should any American citizen ever confuse the nation with the government. Those who govern are often at great odds with the governed. We transition from one government to another every four years unless the president is reelected. In January, our nation’s federal government underwent a radical shift with half the nation’s voters not voting for the change. True as it is that those who govern America have either injurious or remedial effects upon the nation, yet we must resist equating the two.
b. A human government will never be better than the character of those who govern.
At another level, of course, to merge America with the kingdom of God, until Christ reigns on earth as in heaven, is to commit a profound error because the Lord Jesus Christ will not share his dominion and lordship with evildoers. We ought to pray that the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ will be pleased to give us governing officials who submit gladly to his kingship, who understand their restricted role as ordained by God (Rom. 12:1-7), and who will do good to and for all citizens. Nevertheless, even with godly and devout governing officials, America is never to be confused with the kingdom or dominion of God. All human leaders are descendants of Adam, bearing within themselves the corruption common to all sinners. Christ, and he alone, will govern with equity and righteousness.
For a child has been born for us, a son is given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this (Isaiah 9:6-7).
c. Human governments are notorious for corruption, graft, and abuse of power.
Do I really need to expand upon this? As Lord Acton once and famously observed in a letter to Bishop Mandell Creighton in 1887: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” Perhaps better is Frank Herbert’s tweaks of Acton’s dictum: “Power attracts the corruptible. Suspect any who seeks it.” “All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it is magnetic to the corruptible. Such people have a tendency to become drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted” (Chapterhouse: Dune).
There is only one perfect form of government for which every human should yearn. It is the rule of God, the reign of God, the kingdom of God, the dominion of God through the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus, there is one man alone who shall govern without corruption; that man is the Lord of heaven, Jesus Christ, to whom we Christians ought daily to cry out, “Come, Lord Jesus!”